As I mentioned before, we have now visited Las Vegas a few times but we’re just really discovering that there’s much more to explore than the casinos. Scenic Mount Charleston, Nevada is one of those new discoveries.
The Retreat at Charleston Peak
Scenic Mount Charleston Nevada
Our dear friend Jackie in Florida is an avid poker player. She goes to Las Vegas at least once or twice a year to stay at her timeshare there. When we were on our way to Vegas she told us we should treat ourselves to a day in the mountains. Jackie told us about a great place to eat lunch with spectacular views of Mount Charleston.
Naturally we took her advice and headed out of the hustle, bustle and bright neon of the strip to the cooler mountain air. The drive was truly gorgeous. But sadly, that idyllic place for lunch had succumbed to a fire a couple of years back and has not been rebuilt!
Lunch at The Retreat
Steve’s new best friend
Welcome to the Canyon Restaurant at The Retreat
Luckily we stumbled upon The Retreat on Charleston Peak. The hotel had a restaurant so we happily gave the host our name. While we waited for our table at The Retreat’s Canyon Restaurant and Tavern Bar, we enjoyed admiring the many wood carvings and taxidermy creatures. There was even a fabulous bison head at the dining room’s entrance. The decor was everything you’d want in a mountain retreat.
Carved Wooden Eagle and Bear in The Retreat lobby
Steve and I were happy to be seated by a window with a great view of the Spring Mountain Valley. We just couldn’t quite see the Charleston Peak of Mount Charleston because it’s 11,916 up and the highest point in Clark County!
Mountain homes just below the Charleston Peak
Our plan was to enjoy our lunch and then drive the winding mountain road to the summit.
What we ate
My uber delicious Philly Cheesesteak
The first thing that popped out at both of us was the Philly Cheesesteak on the menu. We are both usually wary of “Philly Cheesesteaks” anywhere but in Philly or South Jersey. Most other places just don’t get it right. But the one at the Canyon Restaurant just sounded too delicious to pass up.
Now that’s a mouthful!!!
We were quite pleasantly surprised by just how good our cheesesteaks really were. The hoagie roll was crammed full of tender sliced steak, grilled mushrooms, onions and peppers. All of that was topped off with ooey gooey melted Provolone and Canyon Sauce. The bread was the only slight disappointment. It didn’t have that wonderful crust and chew of the cheesesteaks you get in Philly, but it wasn’t as bad as the soft roll most places use. The accompanying waffle fries and onion rings that we chose were top notch.
Our scenic drive
Craggy mountains and trees almost hide the houses from view.
By the time we headed to the car for our scenic drive up Mount Charleston we were as overstuffed as our sandwiches had been!
Our favorite house on Charleston Peak
Our drive revealed stunning mountain homes built on narrow roads with lots of switchbacks. But those views took our breath away.
Wildlife
The back of our favorite house with lots of glass to capture those amazing views.
We kept an eye out for the wildlife that enjoy the wilderness there. Unfortunately we did not spot any coyotes, bobcats, grey fox, mountain lions, badgers or western spotted skunks – well that one we were happy not to encounter! There are also ring-tail cats, long-tailed weasels and tiny dwarf shrews who prey on insects, but we didn’t spot any.
Stunning A-Frame with mountain vistas
The Mount Charleston Wilderness is made up of a 30,000-foot pile of limestone that accumulated in a westward-deepening sea that dates back to between about 520 million and 280 million years ago.
One last look at Scenic Mount Charleston Nevada
Our trip to scenic Mount Charleston Nevada was enlightening, delightful and delicious!
